By Alex Malm
School Board Chair, Bob Slater, provided an overview regarding background check procedures for district employees and for bus drivers during the Aug. 8 School Board meeting.
During the previous School Board meeting, resident, Jonathan Esposito, asked during public comment if the district would consider reviewing its procedures for background checks.
Esposito’s comments came in the wake of 29-year-old Sean Bailey being arrested and charged on July 19 with Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault; Victim under 13 years old, Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Images, and Manufacturing Child Sexual Abuse Images, according to a press release from the Derry Police Department.
Bailey was a bus driver for Londonderry through third party bus provider Student Transportation of America before resigning from his position last month.
Slater said he has spent a lot of time in the last couple of weeks talking to human resources to get a better understanding of how the procedures work.
“The district follows federal guidelines, plain and simple,” Slater said.
For bus drivers, Slater stated that they follow a two tiered system with one part being able to get the CDL endorsement needed on their license in order to be able to drive buses. They also have to pass a criminal history background check, which is handled through the NH Department of Education.
“They go through that check before they can even get their CDL,” Slater said.
Slater explained that the state in recent years took over being in charge of background checks for bus drivers noting that because of it drivers are able to drive in multiple districts.
With the CDL licenses and having the background checks done for bus drivers through the state, it means they are checked every five years, instead of just the initial time.
Slater said he also spoke with Police Chief, Kim Bernard, to see if there was anything else that could be added. He said the only thing Bernard said could be added would be a polygraph test, which he didn’t recommend.
He told the board that he took comments made about looking more into their procedures to heart.
“I didn’t take lightly some of the information that came from our community,” Slater said.
Slater noted that he is appreciative of the information and suggestions that have come forward from the community.
“It raises flags and I appreciate people bringing those,” Slater said.
In personnel news, the School Board accepted a number of resignations during the meeting. It included Paul Biron, Assistant Principal South School, Chris Childs, a Support Staff employee at Moose Hill, Charlie Clement, a Dining Services employee at the High School, and Debra Tanguay, Support Staff employee at the High School.